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Tanking talk having no effect on Demons: Clark

Melbourne's Mitch Clark says the team are focused on football, not the tanking allegations levelled at the club.

Getty Images Lucas Dawson

Melbourne forward Mitch Clark has rejected suggestions that allegations of tanking are affecting players, as the AFL continues its investigation into the club.

League investigators have reportedly uncovered details of a secret 2009 meeting in which club officials discussed the importance of losing matches to secure higher draft picks.

But Clark said the backroom probes have nothing to do with what is happening with the players' focus on the field.

"No change whatsoever. We're here for preseason (training), these things will take care of themselves," he said on Thursday.

"Obviously I wasn't here when all this stuff allegedly happened, (but) I'm just looking forward to helping this club get back up the ladder."

The Demons tall was pressed about the atmosphere at the club, and whether the allegations would act as motivation for the playing group for 2013 and beyond.

"We don't necessarily use the allegations to drive us to get back up the ladder, what we're here for is to play finals footy," he said.

"At the end of the day it doesn't affect us, the playing group, too much but yeah we're just here to play footy and get the team back up playing finals footy so that's what we're worried about.''

Clark praised the approach of coach Mark Neeld in keeping players focused on improvement ahead of his second season in charge.

"Neeldy has come in with that elite mindset and that's what we're trying to create here. And we were definitely making inroads in the second half of last season," he said.

"The boys have come back in good shape to start this preseason.''

Clark, recruited from Brisbane after the 2011 season, performed strongly in his first season with the Demons before being struck down with a serious Lisfranc foot injury against the Giants in round 13.

Clark was on crutches for nine weeks after surgery, then had 13 weeks in a moonboot as he recovered from serious damage to bones and ligaments in his right foot.

He said he was confident he would be ready for "a couple" of preseason games in 2013 before playing in round one.

"It's progressing well, hopefully I'll have my first run on Monday on the (treadmill)," he said.

"Yeah, I'm on track, the good thing is we've got plenty of time. The important thing is not to rush it and to stay patient."